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Sixth Annual RE$EARCH MONEY Conference

The prevailing R&D-centric model for stimulating productivity and innovation is “not only wrong but backwards”, says one of Ottawa’s most respected veteran high-tech entrepreneurs.

(The following is an extract from Kirk Mandy’s keynote address at the recent RE$EARCH MONEY Conference).

“Canada has a basic policy model that suggests that research leads to development, leads to commercialization and ultimately wealth creation.

Sixth Annual RE$EARCH MONEY Conference

When it comes to gauging the effectiveness and advantage of Canada’s main R&D tax credit program, it all depends on which company you’re talking to. Company-specific issues including business type, country of origin and stage of maturity all factor into the utility of the credits.

Feds provide major funding boost

A recently established forestry research organization has received a major funding boost as part of a federal commitment of $127.5 million over two years to address long-term competitiveness issues.

RE$EARCH MONEY Exclusive

A review of the federal granting councils is calling for changes to the way Canada’s two non-health councils are governed and recommending the creation of a cross-agency mechanism with other federal research funding agencies to ensure better coordination and priority-setting.

The Canadian Foundation for Climate and Atmospheric Sciences (CFCAS) is asking the federal government for $250 million over 10 years, and an expanded mandate, to deal with the socio-economic and health impacts and adaptation related to climate change, in addition to scientific research and training.

By Debbie Lawes

The capacity of Canadian universities to conduct environmental research has experienced a major boost this decade, with unprecedented levels of infrastructure investments and an 81% increase in funding by the three major granting agencies, according to data prepared for RE$EARCH MONEY by the country’s major research funders.

By Debbie Lawes

For Canada’s academic and government scientists, it was a long-awaited financial boost for a research field given new life after decades of neglect. For Canada’s “new government”, it was an opportunity to bolster its green credentials with an electorate that ranks climate change as its top concern.

The Quebec government has followed through on its commitment to the new Research and Innovation Strategy (RIS) with $58.3 million in implementation funding. The new funding was contained in the Liberal government’s pre-election Budget, which contained no new measures for S&T or innovation.

A major new report using social sciences research is calling for major changes to Canadian public policy to enhance competitiveness and productivity while achieving sustainable growth. The Canada Project argues that policy makers are at risk of being lulled into complacency by the benefits of a surging resource economy when long-term prosperity is dependent upon tackling issues such as the pursuit of excellence, inefficient fiscal and regulatory regimes, emerging superpowers and underinvestment in urban centres.